US2880529A - Press plate assembly - Google Patents

Description

` Aprllf7, 1959 D. A. FREEMAN 2,880,529

PRESS PLATE ASSEMBLY Filed May g5, 1955 ooooooooaoo -ooooooooo- ,steam from the head plate. :is provided over the steam diffusing means, such press plateor pad having a desired surface for United lStates PatentO l 2,880,529 PRESS PLATE ASSEMBLY David A. Freeman, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 510,925

2 Claims. (Cl. 38-66) This invention relates to a press plate assembly for garment presses for operating upon a Wide variety of fabrics.

As is well known, garment presses have a hinged head, this including a steam chest connected to a suitable source of steam. The steam chest includes as a part thereof a head plate vof heavy steel, the head plate being provided with steam apertures spaced about 1 apart.

T hese apertures may vary in size but generally have a diameter of the order of about 1,46". Disposed over this apertured head plate is some steam diffusing means and 'a press plate.

The steam ditusing means may be disposed against the head and functions to distribute the A press plate or press pad operating upon the work to beA pressed.

l.Becaus'eof the many diierent kinds and types of fabrics '1 i whereby desired pressing conditions may be readily established. v

The new unit combines a steam diluser and at least one pressI plate as a readily .attachable and detachable assem- 1 bly. Such an assembly may be designed so that one assembly may, for example, be useful for textured type 'fabrics such as wool and the like.

A different assembly containing a steam diiuser unit and press plate may be designed for handling smooth fabrics'such as silk and the like.

An-assembly embodying the invention provides a suit able 4steam diiuser plate and a press plate rigidly attached thereto to form a unit therewith, the unit having suitable means for ready attachment to or detachment from the head of a garment press. In addition to the press plate which forms a permanent part of the unit, there may beI additionally provided a supplementary press plate which is readily removable from or attachable to the steam diiuser and press plate unit. The supplementary press plate and yunit press' plate may each be provided with different pressing surfaces so that the unit and supplementary press plates may provide a compact and all-around accessory to the press head of a garment press for handling a wide variety of work.

For an understanding of` the' invention, reference will now be made to the drawings wherein exemplary embodiments are illustrated, it being understood that variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention except as defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing: Y

Figure l is a plan view of a press -plate assembly embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the press plate assembly illustrated in Fig. 1.

ICC

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the press plate assembly lfrom the inside face thereof, certain parts of the steam diffuser being cut away to illustrate the press plate proper.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section along line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 4a is similar to Fig. 4 but shows a modified press plate.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 5-5 of Fig. l, this detail also showing a portion of a supplementary press plate in spaced relation to the press plate assembly.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on line 6-6 of Fig. l lillustrating the steam diuser retaining means.

The assembly generally is a unitary structure consisting of a suitable steam diffusing means and a suitable press plate. Both-the steam diffuser and press plate may each assume va number of dierent forms. However, a pref ferred steam diffuser and press plate are disclosed.

l The press plate assembly comprises steam diiuser portion generally indicated by 10 and press plate portion generally indicated by 11. Press plate portion 11 is made 'of metal sufficiently heavy to be self-supporting. Press plate portion 11 may be made of aluminum or any other metal or plastic. Steam dituser 10 comprises base plate 14 having arches 15` formed thereof at intervals, said arches extending laterally of the body of the diiuser and providing side openings 16 and 17 for each arch. 'Arches 15 are 'deflected laterally of the body of the steam diffuser somewhat more than the thickness of the body ot the material'itse'lf' to form small openings. The 'arches may extend from one Aside or from both sides 4ofplate14. *"'As illustrated in Fig. 3,'jarehes 15: are-` disposed at spaced intervals, the arches being oriented -in random 'fashion so that there is no ypredominant pattern.' The arches themselves, however', 'are preferably 'disposed' "at uniform intervals and may be spaced so that there-"are between about 50'and about 75 arches persqu'are" inch. About 60 arches per square inch is satisfactory. The arches lie in circles of about IAG" in diameter. It is understood, however, that these dimensions and numbers "are exemplary. Whilev the drawing shows arches 15 ex- `As an example, apertures 23 may have a diameter of between about .020" and about .033" andthe spacing,

While uniform, may vary from a density of between' about per square inch up to as much as 600 per square inch. These dimensions and densitie's'are exemplary and may be varied. y

Plate 22 has outer or 'pressing surface 25 and inner or rear surface 26. Plate 22 may have small burrs or protuberances 27 for-med on a face around each aperture 23 during punching.l T hese may be removed if a smooth surface is desired. Plate 22 may be of metal, such as aluminum, stainless steel or the like, having the characteristic of being free of corrosion in the presence of steam, water or heat.

'Plate 22 may have particles 28 disposed on the pressing surface thereof to provide a metallized porous but rough surface. Such particles may be aluminum particles, ne sand, grit or any other material or metal. v

Plate 22 may also have smooth pressing surface 25 as illustrated in Fig. 4a. p

Referring to the detail in Figs. 5 and 6, the manner of assembling the steam diiuser plate and press'plate will now be described. Plate 22 is provided with marginal portion 30 bent upwardly to form a llange and provided with beaded portion 31.

Nesting within llange 30 is metal angle strip 32. This angle strip extends continuously along the length of flange 30 and may be of one piece or a number of successive strips. Angle strip 32 has portion 33 beaded within beaded portion 31 thereby to form a heavy reinforced bead edge. Angle strip 32 isof solid metal and covers any press plate openings at the flange.

Steam diffuser plate has its marginal portion overlying edge portion 35 of the angle strip. At spaced intervals along the length of bead 31 there are provided clamping angle portions 36, tightly gripped Within bead 31 but overlying the margin of steam diffuser plate 10. Angle portions. 36 may have any desired length along the head and as many are provided as are necessaryV to retain the diffuser plate in position. Angle portions 36 may be of stainless steel, in which case they may be thinner than the steam dilfuser plate. However, the angle portions may be of aluminum and should in all cases be stili enough to lock the diffuser plate in position.

Angle strip 32 may be an extension of diffuser plate 14. Angle strip 32 may be used Without portions 36 in which case diffuser plate 14 may be spot welded thereto or strip 32 may be disposed over the edge of diffuser plate 14. It is also possible to omit strip 32 and use only angle portions 36.

Suitable means for maintaining the steam diffuser and press plate assembly on the press head of a garment press may be provided. Thus for example, springs 38 may be attached to suitable clips riveted to llange portion 30 of the assembly. Springs 38 may be provided in any desired number and may be unhooked from the assembly for the purpose of positioning the assembly on the press head.

As has been indicated above, the assembly may have a rough or smooth pressing surface. For all-around pressing work, it is desirable to have pressing plates of smooth and rough surfaces respectively. Accordingly, if press plate 22 has a rough pressing surface as illustrated in Fig. 2, then an additional and separate supplementary press plate 40 (Fig. 5) having a smooth outer surface may be provided, such additional press plate having suitable snaps or clips or having suitably shapedv edge portions for ready attachment to the assembly. If, however, press plate 22 of the unit has its pressing surface smooth, then additional separable press plate 40 will have a rough pressing surface.

Where both press-plates are apertured, it is desirable vto provide against blocking of the passages of one by the other plate material. This -may be accomplished in a number of Ways. Thus burrs onr one or both plates may be used to maintain the two plates spaced. The burrs would be on one or both of the opposing plate surfaces. AIt is also possible to have the same number and pattern of perforationsin both plates and attempt to maintain registration. The simplest procedure is to have the number and pattern of perforations in one plate sutllciently different from the other plate that there would be a large number of registering passages formed.

It is understood that supplementary press plate 40 has the edge portion so shaped as to be susceptible to being sprung over the flanged edge portion of the steam diffuser and press plate unit assembly. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the bent ilange shaped portion of supplementary press plate 40 is laterally offset from the flangerof the diluser and press plate assembly for ease in illustration. In practice, supplementary press plate 40 would have the flanged marginal portion so dimensioned as to snugly hug the flange portion of the diffuser press plate assembly.

In the forms of the invention described, the press plate and auxiliary press plate have` both. been perforated. It spossible to have one or both press plates solid. For example if plate 22 is solid, then auxiliary 4 press plate 40 may be used for different surface characteristics. If an air space exists between the two, then the auxiliary press plate may run cool. If press plate 22 is perforated as shown and auxiliary press plate 40 is solid than a hot head press will be provided.

By virtue of the unitary construction of the steam diuser and press plate, a compact and uniform product results. Thus a generally constant space will be provided within which steam may expand and through which the expanded steam may pass on to the work. The uniform dimensioning of the assembly will provide for constant pressure of the head upon the work during pressing. In distinction to the above, the use of loose additional plates results in substantial variations of steam volumes and chambers and may also make it difllcult to predetermine the steam transmission characteristics to the work. It is clear therefore that the uniform mechanical structure provided by the double and triple plate arrangement will result in uniform work under uniform operating conditions.

I claim:

1. An assembly for ready attachment to or removal from a garment press, said assembly comprising a press plate of substantially rigid material having a plurality of apertures therein for the passage of steam therethrough and having a front pressing surface which isk resistant to corrosion, heat and steam, a steam diffuser member of substantially rigid material and of substantially the same size and configuration as the rear face of said press plate, said steam diuser member having a. plurality of apertures therein and being disposed against the rear face of the press plate, said press plate having an edge thereof bent to form a rearwardly extending peripheral flange thereon, the edge of said flange being bent to form a bead, and a plurality of substantially rigid angle members having an edge of each thereof secured in said bead and having portions thereof. overlying said diffuser member and rigidly engaging the same and holding said press plate and said dilfus'er member in rm assembly.

2. An assembly for ready attachment to or removal from a garment press, said assembly comprising a press plate of substantially rigid material having a plurality of apertures therein for the passage of steam therethrough and having a front pressing surface which is resistant' to corrosion, heat and steam, said press plate having an edge thereof bent to form a rearwardly extending peripheral flange, an angle strip of substantially rigid materialy nested within the flange on the press plate, a steam dilfuser member of substantially rigid material and of substantially the same size and configuration as the rear face of said press plate, said steam diffuser member having a plurality of apertures therein andv being disposed against vthe rear face of the press plate and against the angle strip, said angle strip forming a spacer between the edge f said diffuser member and the portion of the rear face of' the press plate which underlies the angle strip, said' angle strip and said llange having the edges thereof bent to form a bead securing the same together, and a plurality of substantially rigid angle members having an edge of each thereof secured in said bead and having portions thereof overlying and rigidly engaging edge portions of the diffuser member to'hold said press plate and said diffuser member in rm assembly.

References Cited in the tileA of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS p Freeman Nova l, 1949

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